Robert Loy was the first person I befriended in my freshman year in High School. He was tall, awkward in his movements and he would speak in a low monotone voice. One of the nicknames given to him that year was "Meet the Press".
Robert Loy was what some people would call a nerd. In 9th grade,I was painfully shy,socially awkward and a bookworm and that's one of the reasons we got along. We both got teased and harrased much during our first year at Watkinson School. It would be for different reasons,but we'd get harrassed nonetheless and we often saw our books tossed from the secord floor window of our Study Hall room.
Robert and I also shared a deep interest in history and politics.Robert came from a staunchly Republican family while I was brought up in a staunchly Democratic family. His mom,Helen Loy was once the Republican candidate for Connecticut Secretary of State against Democrat Ella Grasso (who later became the first woman elected Governor)
Robert however felt his parents as well as Richard Nixon were too liberal just like I thought my parents and Lyndon Johnson were too conservative. We made a good team. He was like an encyclopedia of information.
By the time my junior and senior years rolled around,I was less socially awkward and hippiedom had arrived on campus. Robert was the same old Robert,but still we'd hang out..a lot.
There was the senior year camping trip to the Adirondack Mountains. I drove with Robert. Most of the seniors driving were speeding. I'd implore Robert (sometimes I'd call him Bob,although he didn't like it) to hit the gas pedal. Because it was "against the Law",he refused.He never really got mad at me for that.
A few months later Robert was in a cabin with a group of Watkinson Seniors.It was wintertime,the windows had plastic on them and there was very little ventilation. For about 2 hours,one joint after another was being smoked by everyone..except Robert! For 2 hours in a barely ventilated cabin,Robert was debating the rest of us on the evils of marijuana.
Robert was a good friend to have if you planned on attending certain high school parties. He would serve as the Designated Driver before that became a term,and if I was too drunk and/or stoned to go home,if I called my mom to tell her I was crashing at Loy's house,she had less reason to suspect that I might be too drunk or stoned to go home. Better to hear a philosophical lecture from Loy as opposed to a pissed off parent.
I once,on a road trip we took after our high school graduation did persuade him to try and crash the Kennedy compound in Hyannisport Massachusetts. (We got stopped)
We maintained connection well into our adult years.Robert being true to form during one of our last conversations was criticizing Bush for not being conservative enough,yet despite being a staunch Catholic and anti-abortion,was highly suspecious of the Religious Right.
Robert never did get over his extreme social awkwardness and later this led to some hard times as an adult.The last time I spoke with him,he was living in some kind of adult home.
The last time I called the home,I was informed he was no longer there.I've searched the internet and social media (though it's highly unlikely he'd wind up there) I've even searched obituaries.
As I watch the Republican Convention,I can't help but wonder what Robert Loy might be thinking. I can't imagine him supporting Trump,but can't imagine him as a Ted Cruz guy either. Kasich??
If anyone has any clue as to the whereabouts of Robert Loy,let him know his old friend David is still thinking about him.
